Float-operated circuit-closer



M. H. TOLAND.

FLOAT OPERATED CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1.1, 1919 Patented May 4,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- M. H. TOLAND.

FLOAJ': OPERATED CiRGUlT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11,1919

Patented May 4, 19205 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- MARY H. TOLAND, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

FLOAT-OPERATED CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May4, 1920.

App1ication filed February 11, 1819. Serial No. 276,396.

I '0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARY H. ToLAND, a citizen of the United States of America, res siding at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Float-Operated Circuit-Closers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is designed for the purpose of providing a float operated alarm to be used in conjunction with refrigerators, so that the filling of the drip pan of the latter may serve to operate a satisfactory signaling device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, which may be easily attached on the side of a refrigerator, so that it may be used in conjunction with the drip pan of any refrigerator irrespective of its make.

A still further object of the invention is to provide adjustable means to insure the operation of the signaling device when the water in the drip pan has risen to a predetermined level.

A still further object is the provision of means for locking the float in its elevated position so that both hands may be used for the removal of the drip pan.

A still further object seeks the provision of a device of this character, which is simple in construction, durable and effective in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further objects will appear as the invention is set forth in the detailed description which follows.

To the exact construction in which it is shown and described, the invention is not to be restricted. The right is reserved to make such changes or alterations as the actual reduction to practice may demand, in so far as such changes or alterations are comprehended in spirit by the annexed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a refrigerator showing the invention attached thereto,

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of. the attachment per 86,

F 3 is an elevational view of the at tachment looking at the base plate.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4r of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a refrigerator A, its drip pan B and the attachment C, the latter comprising the invention. The attachment has base plate 1 preferably rectangular in shape and made of insulating material and provided with two metallic ears 2, one on either side, the ears having suitable holes through which screws may be inserted to attach the base plate to the refrigerator A; The base plate on its bottom edge and at an intermediate point between its sides, is provided with a recess 3 in which a bar 5 is set, the bar 5 being fixedly secured to a pin 6 which is journaled in bearings 7 mounted on the front of the base plate and extending transversely across the latter from its outer edges to the recess 3 at the sides of which they terminate.

The base plate 1 is provided with the binding posts 8 and 9, a wire 10 embedded in the base plate connecting the binding post 8 with one of the bearings 7.

Carried on the back of the base plate there is a metallic right angular shaped member 11 which is secured to the base plate by means of one of its flanges. A pin 12 extending through the base plate from the front to the back connects with the member 11 and secures it to the base plate, this pin 12 also serving to support a pawl 13 which is mounted on the pin so as to be capable of rotary movement thereon. Y

The bottom end of this pawl is formed with the projection 14: adapted to engage the upper edge of the arm 5 projecting beyond the front of the base plate when that end of the arm is depressed. l/Vhen the pawl 13 is moved, so that its projection 14 may not interfere with the rocking of the arm 5, it rests upon contact point 16 with which it engages with sufficient friction to maintain it in contact. This contact point 16 is electrically connected with the binding post 9 by means of a wire 17 which is embedded in the base plate.

The arm 5 on that end projecting from the back of the base plate has connected to it a stem 18 at the end of which there is car ried a float 19. Adjacent to its point of connection with the stem, the arm 5 carries on its upper edge a spring contact member 20 which is electrically connected with the pin 6 by means of a wire 21 embedded in the arm. Ifthe arm 5 be of metal, this wire 21 is unnecessary, but in practice the arm 5 will be made preferably of wood. The L-shaped member 11 carries a screw 22 which is threaded through its free leg, the lower end of the screw being designed for contact with the spring contact member 20 when the rear end of the arm 5 is raised. This screw is designed as an adjustable contact member and it is obvious that it may be regulated so as to require the raising of the arm 5 a definite distance for contact to be effected.

The signaling means for the attachment resides in a bell 23 and battery 24:, the two being connected in series with the attachment by means of the binding posts 8 and 9. In the use of the invention, the base plate 1 is attached on the side of the refrigerator A, as shown, the float 19 projecting underneath the refrigerator and into the drip pan 1). As the water in the drip pan rises, the float 19 perforce will be raised and will finally bring the contact member 20 into contact with the screw 22, whereupon a circuit is established to permit the battery 2% to operate the bell, the current from the battery leaving by the positive electrode of the latter and passing to the binding post 9, over the wire 17, contact member 16, pawl 13, L-shaped member 11, screw 22, contact spring 20, wire 21, pin 6, one of the bearings 7, wire 10, binding post 8, the bell 23 and thence back to the battery 24. In removing the drip pan after the operation of the signal, that end of the bar 5 which projects from the front of the base plate may be depressed, when the pawl 13 may have its lower end moved laterally so as to bring the projection 14 over the upper edge of the bar. This operation serves to elevate the float 19 to apoint where the drip pan can be easily withdrawn from underneath the refrigerator. This operation would result in keeping the bell ringing, did not the pawl 13 interrupt the circuit of the bell when being engaged with the arm 5. The pawl 13 effects this interruption of the circuit because it is a current carrying part thereof, and so soon as it is moved laterally as described, it

passes off the contact point 16 and the circuit is interrupted at this point.

The provision of the adjustable screw 21 affords means of varying the height to which the float must be raised to effect the opera tion of the invention and this is advantageous in that it permits the attachment to be used with various depths of drip pans.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the invention may be had, and further description is, therefore, omitted.

The invention havingbeen described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a device of the kind set forth, a base plate, an arm pivotally mounted on the base plate and carrying a float at one end, a contact member mounted on the base plate, a pawl pivotally mounted on the front of the base plate and electrically connecting with the contact member, a contact point embedded in the base plate, a pair of binding posts mounted on the base plate, and connections between one binding post and the contacting point and the other binding post and the arm, the pawl being frictionally engageable with the contact point and being also engageable with the arm to hold the float raised but not being engageable with both at the same time, the arm when elevated contacting with the contact member.

2. In a device of the kind set forth, a support, an arm pivotally mounted on the support and carrying a float at one end, a contact member mounted on the support to effect contact with the arm when the latter is raised, a circuit including the contact member and arm as a part thereof, and common means for maintaining the arm in raised position and for opening the circuit while the arm is in such raised position.

In testimony whereof I a'ilix my signature.

MARY H. TOLAND. 

